Although the thought often is that landscapes are simply "there," and all one has to do is snap them, nothing is further from the truth. A worthy landscape has merit because it captures some emotional or esthetic element of the scene. The best landscapes also have a purpose and a message and an intrinsic fit in their time and place.

I would not by any means suggest that all my landscapes reach that level of execution but I hope some do. A good landscape is not simply a pretty picture. I don't mind a pretty picture at all but I try to go beyond that.